Earth Day 2013

Mama gnome has not tended her gardenblog as much as she ought to.
Young gnomelets take up her time day and night.
But mother gnome would still like to share with you the gnome family's Earth Day endeavor for this year.
It swelled up her old gnome heart for it allowed her time to spend with one of her favorite earth creatures...trees.
The gnome family spent Earth Day 2013 with some of her favorite humans as well...Treepeople.

(c) friendlygnome.blogspot.com 

On this day, Treepeople, the gnome family, and other humans planted trees and tended to the young treelings that were already there.
The gnome family and their human family team had to prepare the tree root ball by teasing out the roots, smoothing them out and making sure the roots didn't wrap around so when the tree grows, the roots will be growing and spreading out as much as they should.

(c) friendlygnome.blogspot.com

 Mama gnome was giddy for the tree root smelled wonderful. The young tree we planted was a bay tree and this rootball smelled like bay leaves. Mother gnome's nose tingled and she smiled.

Who knew that one of the secrets of planting trees was the use of small feet to stamp down the earth around the spot where the tree was planted to compact the soil around the young tree.

(c)friendlygnome.blogspot.com 

Gnomes and humans had to haul big buckets of water back and forth to water all the newly planted trees plus all the other treelings.

After the planting, mulching, weeding, raking, and watering, the gnome family and humans settled down for a lunch box provided by the Treepeople.
Mama gnome ate a scrumptious veggie sandwich and a refreshing salad and...Mama gnome couldn't believe how big the cookie was! It was bigger than her hand.
Mother gnome assures you she had no trouble making that cookie fit in her mouth and in her stomach eventually.

After all the work was done, the humans left but not the gnome family. Mama gnome had heard from a treepeople person that there was actually a river nearby even though we couldn't see it from where we were. This was enough for the gnome family to explore and find the mystical river.
First we encountered horseshoe prints on the path.

Then we clambered up a hill to this chainlink fence and lo and behold this river made by humans.

Young gnomelets whooped and hollered with joy. Mama gnome and daddy gnome looked at each other and smiled. What a wonderful treat to find this.
Of course young gnomelets were not content to look from far away, the gnome family scrambled and ambled slowly and carefully down to the river's edge and was even more surprised to see these...

Can you spot the ducks in flight?

 Crane and ducks had no trouble getting along.

The river and vegetation merged beautifully along this spot.

Daddy gnome and young gnomelets were happy to spot this foxtail growing so well along the river's edge.
Such a picturesque spot don't you think. Now what would mar this vision?
Mama gnome's bane of her existence, Plastic Bag Monster, had its minions in the river as well.

This is part of what drives Mama gnome and the gnome family to battle several times a year against Plastic Bag Monster and its minions.

This is the young tree, the gnome family helped plant. We will visit her soon to see how she if faring.

Mama gnome hopes you would join the gnome family and become tree guardians as well.
Please make everyday an Earth Day and drive Plastic Bag Monster to eternal oblivion, and go green.

(c) text and all pictures friendlygnome.blogspot.com

Let the Trees Chase your Cares Away on Earth Day 2013

Earth Day 2013

Mama gnome crouched down as she rummaged in the trunk by the bed. She was busy looking for gnomelets' trusty battle garments.
Yes, the gnome family will be going to battle once more this year for Earth Day 2013.
Battle plans had been drawn, perused over, and agreed upon by all members of the gnome family.

This Saturday, April 20th, at precisely 0600 hours, the gnome family will pile into the trusty gnome car and traverse the lands to participate in tree planting, weeding, mulching, sweeping, cleaning, and any other ing activities involved in forest rehabilitating with the human group, well named as Treepeople.

Mama gnome looks forward to Earth Day every year and indeed she urges you to participate in any way you can and perform a single act of green. Visit earthday.org to find more information.

As one of Mama gnome's favorite humans, John Muir, said, "Climb the mountains and get their good tidings.  Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees.  The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves."

Please make every day an Earth Day, let all your cares be chased away by the trees...and go green.

(c) friendlygnome.blogspot.com

video by NASAexplore

Poisoned Apple

Green valleys lined with rows of fruit trees made the mother gnome smile.
The trees, warmed by the sun, stretched out their arms. But a dark shadow passed overhead and loud roaring sound reverberated in the valley.
A clap of thunder on this glorious sunny day? Mama gnome looked out the window. The shadow revealed itself. A huge flying monster with dragon like wings swooped down.
It sprayed toxic mists on top of all the young fruit trees.Mama gnome clapped her hand over her mouth. She really did.Nothing like a good dose of reality to shake Mama gnome out of her ignorance about pesticides and herbicides.

There are terrible health consequences to pesticide exposure including non-Hodgkin lymphoma, leukemia, brain cancer, prostate cancer...

Is it any wonder that people who work with pesticides dress like this?

"Monsanto pesticide to be sprayed on food crops."

photo by:http://www.usda.gov/oc/photo/94cs3568.htm


Does it not make you think twice about eating fruits and vegetables that were sprayed with something so toxic, the person has to wear a hazmat suit?

video from tiboc

Here is a shopper's guide to pesticides. They list the "dirty dozen" fruits and vegetables and the "clean 15." The worst offenders are apples, celery, strawberries, and spinach!

EWG's Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce

Dirty Dozen
Buy these organic
1 Apple
2 Celery
3 Strawberries
4 Peaches
5 Spinach
6 Nectarines–imported
7 Grapes–imported
8 Red Sweet bell peppers
9 Potatoes
10 Blueberries–domestic
11 Lettuce
12 Kale/collard greens

Clean 15
Lowest in Pesticide
1 Onions
2 Sweet Corn
3 Pineapples
4 Avocado
5 Asparagus
6 Sweet peas
7 Mangoes
8 Eggplant
9 Cantaloupe-domestic
10 Kiwi
11 Cabbage
12 Watermelon
13 Sweet Potatoes
14 Grapefruit
15 Mushrooms

Please heed Mama gnome's warning.

Please avoid the poisoned apple and eat organic fruits and veggies.

Save yourself and go green.
(c) jenaelha, Friendly Gnome's Blog

Gnome Garden Summer 2011

Mama gnome is cursed with a green-challenged thumb. She cannot grow plants.

But fate smiles thus on the mother gnome for daddy gnome's and gnomelets' thumbs are verdant green.

Mama gnome presents with pride, the gnome family's garden.
















Mama gnome hopes your garden in life thrives and go green.

(c) all pictures and text by Jenaelha, Friendly Gnome

Gnomes and Humans Plant Trees for Earth Day 2011

The gnome car faithfully hugged the road on the side of the mountain.

Daddy gnome asked, "Are we going the right way?"

Mama gnome said, "Hmmmm..." She stared out at the window, mesmerized by the rolling dips and gorges.


Daddy gnome said, "Ehemm... Mama gnome? Are we going the right way?"

"What? Oh...let me see..."Mama gnome's stubby finger followed the wriggly lines. "Looks like it." Mama gnome sat up straight. She felt quite at ease with the map.

The wrinkly paper was an old friend.

The computer on the other hand...always played mind games on the old gnome. She didn't trust that whiny gps voice either.

Give me a map any day, Mama gnome always thought.

It was important the gnome family didn't get lost on this special day, Earth Day 2011.

They had a special date with humans, tree loving humans, as it were.

"Trees!" Gnomelets who were quietly sitting in the back of the gnome car burst into sudden movements of waving and pointing at these:


Elder gnomelet said, "They look strange, Mama. They're black and they don't have leaves."

Younger gnomelet said, "No leaves."

Mama gnome said, "I'm afraid so, little ones. There was a fire here last year. That's why we're here. Somebody's got to do something about it."

Soon, this came into view:


By the by, the gnome family, made it to the campsite.

Mama gnome kept her fingers crossed. Time and time again, she'd been disappointed by the smallish number of humans she'd seen at events like: Coastal Cleanup Day and 350.org's International Day of Climate Action.

The gnome family were greeted by this wondrous being.


Of course Mama gnome and young gnomelets proceeded to hug it tremendously.

Mama gnome's trepidation disappeared.

There were more humans here than Mama gnome had seen at previous ecoevents.

She beamed at the tall human lady with the sign up sheet.

The gnome family were given strict instructions to wear a hard hat at all times even during breaks.

Daddy gnome deftly adjusted the hard hats for the young ones and soon the gnome's pointy hats were squashed underneath the yellow roundish hats.

Mama gnome kept a firm grip on younger gnomelet's hand and Daddy gnome took older gnomelet's hand.

The trek was quite daunting...slippery slopes covered with ash, rocky dips, and over streams.

Mama gnome's small heart pounded, fearful for the quite short young gnomelets' legs.

But they did her proud. The young gnomelets marched on without a single complaint.

At times, the gnome family over took humans who had to stop and rest.

Along the way they saw:

Charred remains of a burnt tree...


A bleak mountaintop that looks like a desert...



Sad muses of trees...


More burnt trees on a rocky slope...



Mama gnome didn't know what they were before but now they looked like giant burnt pineapples.



After over an hour of hiking on rough terrain, a tree loving human gave instructions on how to plant the saplings to give the young trees the best chances of survival.

The kindly human instructor said, the trees had a survival rate of 75%.


The humans and the gnome family went to work.

Here was Mama gnome's secret weapon...

Older gnomelet aka super ecowarrior.

She scoffs at the face of ecoenemies...and deals them a terrible blow with her tiny hands.




After what seemed like hours of work,the gnomes were tired and thirsty.

Other humans had left already. But the gnomes stayed and carried out what they set out to do. They finished planting the young trees on the bleak mountain.

Afterward they faced an even more daunting task, the hike back.

The gnome family climbed up steep inclines, held on to rocky crevices, and found footing on ash covered ground.

With faces covered with soot and ash, and bones and muscles weary, the gnomes encountered a gentle creature who bade them go on.



Finally, they spotted the campsite.


When the gnome family reached the campsite, the Forest Ranger and the leader of tree humans applauded the young gnomelets. The youngest participants for the tree planting event made the biggest impression.

Elder gnomelet said, "Mama, my cheeks are red."

Mama gnome said, "You did good, my love. You did good."

It was close to three in the afternoon and the gnomes were famished having missed lunch.

The young gnomelets cheered when they discovered...a giant cookie in their lunch boxes.

Mama gnome was very impressed with the lunch box made from recycled paper.

NO PLASTIC OR STYROFOAM in sight. And she was grateful for the vegetarian sandwich.



After their meal, the young gnomelets made wishes at the stream, throwing pine cones into the water.

Mama gnome made her own wish...a not so secret wish for more trees.

Mama gnome wishes all humans would help make Earth Day everyday, make her wish come true and go green...

(c) all photos and text by Jenaelha, Friendly Gnome's Blog

Trees for Earth Day 2011

This Saturday, April 23, the gnome family will travel to a forest that was ravaged by fire last year.

The gnome family will meet up with humans to help plant trees in honor of Earth Day 2011.

Please celebrate Earth Day 2011 by doing one single act of green.

Together, humans and gnomes can contribute to a billion acts of green for planet earth.


video from: thechriscarsonshow

Please visit Earth Day Network's A Billion Acts of Green

Make each day earth day and go green.

(c) Jenaelha, Friendly Gnome's Blog

Lowly Toilet Paper Saves Majestic Trees...Saves the World

Mama gnome went to Gnomeco to buy ecofriendly toilet paper.

But when she rounded the corner, Mama gnome almost dropped her pointy hat.

She saw the usual pallet where they stored super green toilet paper was now stacked with firewood!

Was it not enough to take away the good toilet paper, but they had to replace it with more cut down trees for future burning and releasing of more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere?

Did Gnomeco intend for Mama gnome to... as young gnomelet would put it... "freak out" in the middle of the household stuff aisle?

Mama gnome stood and stared at the pallet of firewood.

She rubbed her eyes and blinked a few times but the firewood remained.

She trudged around the next few aisles as fast as her gnome legs could trudge...but saw no sign of the super ecofriendly toilet paper.

Mama gnome made a mental note to head to Trader Gnome's to buy green toilet paper since Gnomeco declared super green toilet paper... toilet paper ingrata.

If you wonder why Mama gnome was upset with Gnomeco it's because not all toilet paper are created equal.

The most bought toilet paper and readily available toilet paper are made from virgin fiber which means from chopped down trees.

The least bought toilet paper and hard to find toilet paper are made from recycled paper, and the best toilet paper would be made from recycled paper with high postconsumer paper waste content.

This quiet unassuming toilet paper saves trees because it's made from recycled paper instead of virgin tree fiber.

According to this post, American humans use "about 50 pounds of tissue products per person every year. This is 50% more than the consumption rate in Western Europe and Japan."

The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) states:

"The pulp and paper industry may contribute to more global and local environmental problems than any other industry in the world. Paper manufacturers reach deep into species-rich forests for virgin timber, razing trees, polluting waterways and destroying precious wildlife habitat. Pulp and paper mills that use virgin timber are major generators of hazardous air pollutants, including dioxins and other cancer-causing chemicals. And the industry is the third largest industrial emitter of global warming pollution."

"The virgin timber-based pulp and paper industry is the third greatest industrial emitter of global warming pollution. Its carbon dioxide emissions are projected to double by 2020."


According to NRDC,
If every household in the United States replaced just one roll of virgin fiber toilet paper (500 sheets) with 100% recycled ones, we could save 423,900 trees.




video from: rainforestproject

Please visit NRDC's site to see the list of paper products.

Pick the quiet unassuming toilet paper that saves the world.

Pick Clark Kent and Superman in one fell swoop and go Green!

(c)2010 Jenaelha, Friendly Gnome's Blog

The Deforestation of Africa

Mama gnome wonders if you knew about the deforestation of Africa?

From WWF:

"A new study co-authored by a World Wildlife Fund scientist documents waves of forest degradation advancing like ripples in a pond 75 miles across East Africa in just 14 years."

WWF reports most logging is illegal. In addition, illegal charcoal burning is done by local people who don't have any other source of income.

"A trade survey by TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network, estimated that in 2005 some 96 percent of harvested timber was exported illegally, losing the Tanzanian government an estimated $58 million of revenue."

It's been reported that:

"In West Africa, nearly 90 percent of the original moist forest is gone, and what remains is heavily fragmented and degraded."

Mama gnome wants to emphasize:

• Most logging is illegal
• "96% of harvested timber was exported illegally"
• Poverty forces people to cut down trees or burn trees because they have no other source of income. What happens when all the trees are gone?
• Almost 90 % of West Africa's original forests are gone.....That's ninety percent obliterated.
  

Please watch this video by the Jane Goodall Institute:


video by: JaneGoodallInstitute

But what is really sad...the slashing and burning of forests is happening in other parts of the world, Mama gnome is quite stricken to say.

Please visit WWF and the Jane Goodall Institute to read about this and pass the information to other humans.

Please help save our forests and go green.

(c) 2010, Jenaelha, Friendly Gnome's blog

Mama gnome takes a hike

Mama gnome donned her pointy hat, tightened her grip on her walking stick and walked up this path.

(c) Friendly Gnome's Blog

She breathed in fresh air and looked up the side of the hill and saw this:

(c) Friendly Gnome's Blog

She marveled at the beauty of these wildflowers:

(c) Friendly Gnome's Blog

She saw a peculiar hole carved into the side of the mountain. She glanced around and hurried away from this site.

(c) Friendly Gnome's Blog

She nodded her head and made notes of the contrasting colors of dark brown branches and bright yellow green leaves.

(c) Friendly Gnome's Blog

She wondered what happened to this shrubbery with its burnt and withered branches and leaves.

(c) Friendly Gnome's Blog

She spoke with this gentle giant.

(c) Friendly Gnome's Blog

Mama gnome gazed at the beautiful landscape and whispered, "Thank you."



Mama gnome took a hike. She urges you to do the same and go green.

(c) 2010 Jenaelha, Friendly Gnome's Blog
(c) all pictures by Mama gnome

Paper...Rock....Scissors....Trees!

Mama gnome asked Daddy gnome, "Are those young gnomelets or monkeys?" for the two gnomelets were climbing over him like young arboreal animals and not two gnomelets who lived in a burrow.

"I think they're wild animals," said Daddy gnome while he wrestled with the gnomelets.

"Alright, let's settle down now. Come here and let's play another game," said Mama gnome. "How about a game of paper, rock, scissors?"

"Alright, Mama. How do we play?" asked baby gnomelet.

"Rock beats scissors because scissors can't cut rock. Paper beats rock because it can cover the rock. Scissors beat paper because it can cut paper."

So the young gnomelets learned to play this game while Daddy gnome got up to drink some of Mama gnome's elixir of life (so vital for existence). The young gnomelets zapped all his energy.

But now Mama gnome wants to talk to you about a different sort of game.

Mama gnome calls this game, "Paper...Rock...Scissors...Trees."

For in this game, paper beats both the rock and scissors and trees win.

This paper is special for it is made from recycled paper. And if it's super special the paper is made with a high percentage of post consumer content.

This means only a small percentage of the paper comes from virgin fiber from trees.

If humans all over the world used recycled paper and paper products and less from virgin fiber paper, more trees will be saved.

According to the National Resources Defense Council:

If every household in the United States replaced just one roll of virgin fiber paper towels (70 sheets) with 100% recycled ones, we could save 544,000 trees.

Mama gnome almost fainted when she read that.

That's five hundred forty-four thousand...trees.

Not weeds, not bushes, not dandelions, but real living, breathing trees.

Please watch this video "Unchopping a Tree" by Maya Lin

video from: unchopatree

Here's a list of special paper products from the Natural Resources Defense Council website.

Please visit their site to see an entire Shoppers Guide for paper products with recycled paper and quite a few made with high content from postconsumer waste.

Please know that Mama gnome's blog is a non-profit blog.

She does not receive or take advertisements and does not receive any sort of money or profit through this blog.

This blog is entirely because Mama gnome's fervent love for trees, nature and planet Earth and she does not want to make any profit from planet Earth's problems.

So the link for NRDC's list above is truly to arm you with that special paper you will need to win Mama gnome's special game of paper-rock-scissors.

And if you pick the best paper with recycled paper made from high content of postconsumer waste then game on...

Paper...rock...scissors...Trees!

Please be a winner for planet Earth...

For this new year, be the best darn paper rock scissors player on this planet.

Let go of your virgin fiber paper products...go for Super Paper instead and Go Green.

(c) 2009-2010 Jenaelha, Friendly Gnome's Blog

Mama gnome's Green Wish List

Mama gnome braved walking amidst tall humans milling around with eyes busy shopping and hands close to their money bags.

Yes, Mama gnome went Christmas shopping.

She even ventured into the gargantuan Gnome Club.

Mama gnome saw a human dressed as Santa Claus standing by the tomatoes and radishes and speaking on his phone of cellular proportions.

Mama gnome went home and shared the news.

"I saw Santa Claus at the Gnome Club, " said Mama gnome whilst the gnomelets struggled into their bunny suits at bedtime.

Baby gnomelet said, "Mama...was it a pretend Santa or a real Santa?"

Mama gnome paused for a moment and finally said, "I don't know."

Mama gnome was struck by baby gnomelet's question.

How can she tell if it was a real Santa or not?

As a gnome she didn't know any elves who might be privy to this information.

Mama gnome realized a real Santa would have no difficulty giving her items on her Green Wish List, as long as she was on Santa's good gnome list.

So with fingers crossed, Mama gnome wrote a letter not to the pretend Santa but to the "real Santa."


Dear Santa,

How are you? I hope this letter finds you in good spirits and if not, please help yourself with the plate of freshly baked oatmeal raisin cookies left by the aga stove and don't forget to drink a draught of Mama gnome's elixir, so vital for life.

I'm sorry to bother you but as a gnome to a Santa...please grant a wish or two to this old mother gnome.

I don't know where to start. But this is not the time to be stymied.

Mama gnome's first green wish is a give-a-tree card from arbor day.org. A tree would be planted in a forest in honor of the recipient.

This tree would grow tall and majestic for every year my gnomelets grow. This would be a lovely gift for Christmas.

My second green wish would be a stainless steel water bottle...to help Mama gnome continue her personal battle against the bane of her existence, Plastic Bag Monster, and his minions.

Mama gnome might take up knitting once more and knit a water bottle cozy.

A water bottle dressed up to the nines will make plastic bottles shrink into a recyclable stage.

Mama gnome's third green wish would be 100% postconsumer waste printer paper and eco-friendly ink cartridges.

They would come in handy when Mama gnome finally prints a story she'd been writing for little gnomelets.

Within the bracket of 100% recycled paper, Mama gnome would go bonkers over 100% recycled toilet paper. Yes, toilet paper. Think how many trees would be saved.

Here's a list from the Natural Resources Defense Council of how many trees would be saved if households purchased paper and paper products from recycled or postconsumer waste instead of virgin fiber.

They report "if every household in the United States replaced just one roll of virgin fiber toilet paper(500 sheets) with 100% recycled ones, we could save 423,900 trees."

Yes...423,900 trees saved just by replacing the toilet paper.

Yes, Santa...that many trees.

Now, don't get too comfortable checking off my list because Mama gnome's green wish list also includes....(drum roll)....a Vertical Axis Wind Turbine!

No, it won't poke my eye out.

This turbine is environmentally friendly as in it would not be a spinning death machine for birds. It is even eligible for federal tax incentives and rebates.

It's green power. Does Mama gnome need to say more?

Now Santa, go ahead and finish that cookie because Mama gnome's green wish list has culminated to wish number one: solar panels.

Mama gnome knows it would make your landing on the roof trickier but think of all the green power it would produce and actually help reduce greenhouse gases up in the sky where you have to fly anyway.

Mama gnome knows they could be expensive but there are programs available now where the consumer can lease solar panels, avoiding the costs of buying them upfront.

Mama gnome would pass out if she sees the lovely reflection of sunlight from solar panels on the gnome roof.

Mama gnome said, "That would be off...the fishing hook."


Thank you so much for all the hard work you do every year, Santa.

I think I was mostly on the nice list this year and avoided heated arguments with humans who drove giant SUV's while smoking cigars and wearing fur coats.

So please, please consider my green wish list.

Sincerely,
Mama gnome


Mama gnome hopes your wish list might have a "green item or two" in there and if you think of another green item, please don't hesitate to write a note to Mama gnome as well.

But "green" gifts are gifts that show you really care for the recipient, gifts that show you care for the environment, gifts that show you know the true value of gift-giving.

Mama gnome and her family would like to wish you and your family a joyous, peaceful and Green Holiday season!

(c) 2009 Jenaelha, Friendly Gnome's Blog

A grateful gnome

Mama gnome bustled around the aga stove all day. Today the gnome family celebrated a day of giving thanks.

At the table, Mama gnome said, "Family, I wish to say thank you to all of you, to Daddy gnome, to elder gnomelet, baby gnomelet, Auntie gnome. Mama gnome is very thankful for all your love and support, especially when we have to battle Plastic Bag Monster."

At this point, the gnome family stopped eating and went grrrrr... at the thought of Plastic Bag Monster.

Mama gnome continued, "I'm also grateful for our planet Earth, our trees, oceans, polar bears and all creatures big and small. But please tell me, what are you most thankful for?"

Elder gnomelet said, "For water, Mama. And the plants and trees. Because I love trees!"

Auntie gnome said, "Marine life! Marine life! Our oceans especially without pollution are so beautiful."

Daddy gnome said,"I'm thankful for our garden, Mama gnome. Even though we live here where it's quite city like, we have our yard where the trees and plants make me feel quite at home."

Mama gnome said, "Quite right, Daddy gnome. You are quite right."

Baby gnomelet said, "I'm thankful for Mama for giving me all this food!"

Mama gnome smiled.



video by Earthshots.org
music by Sigur Ros, "Hoppipola"

Mama gnome wishes everyone would see the bounty and beauty of our planet and show our gratitude by helping her stay safe. Please Go Green.

(c) 2009 Jenaelha, Friendly Gnome's Blog

In Memoriam

Mama gnome tied ribbons around every tree in her garden to remember the
2,974 people who died and another 24 who remain listed as missing because of 9/11.


photo from: National Park Service

"The deaths include 246 on the four planes, 2,603 in New York City in the towers and on the ground, and 125 at the Pentagon."

411 emergency workers (NY Firefighters, NY Police Officers, Port Authority Police Officers, EMTs, paramedics) died on that day while "they attempted to rescue people and fight fires."



video from: rebel225343

We will never forget you.

(C)2009 Jenaelha Friendly Gnome's Blog

"How do I love thee? Let me count the trees."

"How do I love thee? Let me count the trees..."

"One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten! Ten trees, honey. Is that okay?"

"Yes, and you'd better not divorce me, 'cause then I'd want fifty."

In one of the most romantic and moving stories, Mama gnome has ever read, people are asked to plant ten trees in order to get married.

How romantic is that? Get married and plant trees at the same time?

In the Javanese province of Garut in Indonesia, couples are asked to plant ten trees to get their marriage license.

And if they divorce, they need to plant fifty trees.

Indonesia is the third largest producer of green house emissions after China and the United States. This is due to massive deforestation in the country due to overfarming.

The act of deforestation itself releases carbon dioxide and with the the trees gone, carbon dioxide is less absorbed and thus more emissions are released.

According to this CNN report,

Forestry officials have identified "critical land" in Garut, which has been overfarmed and needs to be reforested. The overfarming leads to erosion, which can cause major flooding.

Environmental officials estimate that 50 million trees are needed in Garut alone to reverse the harm done by overfarming.

Fifty million trees! How much will that cost? So they came up with a brilliant plan to ask couples to plant trees.


video from cnn.com


Can you imagine if they did that everywhere?

Las Vegas would be a forest and not a desert.

Mama gnome says, "Ka-ching! Jackpot."

Anybody planning a destination wedding? I hear Garut, Indonesia is very romantic.

Go green.

(c) Jenaelha Friendly Gnome's Blog

First Scroll: Treasures Found In A Trashcan Full of Sinatras

There are bands and there are bands and there's the

TRASHCAN SINATRAS

Once upon a time in a magical land, where the Scottish Crossbill sings and the ancient Fortingall tree grows, a band of humans came together and became the Trashcan Sinatras.

Mama gnome has listened to them for years, long before the tube of yous and the book of faces and the twitterings of electronic birds.

The Trashcan Sinatras woke up Mama gnome from an afternoon stupor when she heard Funny.

And Mama gnome said, "What? What wondrous music is this doth stir this gnome's soul?"

And she was hooked.

Their first album, named after Mama gnome's own heart, was called "CAKE."

And the world listened to Obscurity Knocks and Only Tongue can Tell.

And like all heroes, they too were tested. John Douglas, guitarist, described the 'indoor years' that started in 1997.

Yet they remained stalwart humans and amidst their struggles they continued to create poetic, out of this world music with songs such as How Can I Apply , Snow , A Coda and thankfully countless more. Mama gnome will have to fill out scroll after scroll for all of them.

Whenever Mama gnome felt depressed because of earthwarming and diminishing rain forests of the Amazon, she would listen to Weightlifting and her spirits will rise.

All the Dark Horses evokes images of the magnificent animals running free on the Andalusian plains.

In the earth years of nine and two thousand, the Trashcan Sinatras, brought forth their sixth album called IN THE MUSIC which features one of Mama gnome's favorites, Apples and Oranges.

The new album also contains the song, People, which stirs quiet wishing from Mama gnome for a song called, Gnomes.

But Mama gnome wished for more. Her quest: to find the elusive Trashcan Sinatras.

And so Mama gnome accompanied by loyal Daddy gnome traveled and passed through the desert.

(c)2009 Jenaelha Friendly Gnome's blog

They admired Rock formations evocative of a certain planet (cough) Vulcan!

(c)2009 Jenaelha Friendly Gnome's blog

They traversed the highway of cement where the gnome car passed through the carpool lane, and other cars parked on the other side of the freeway. You see or rather smell greenhouse gases hard at work.

(c)2009 Jenaelha Friendly Gnome's blog

They passed this.

(c)2009 Jenaelha Friendly Gnome's blog

And Mama gnome thought, "What manner of woman is this Beverly to have hills named after her?"

Mama gnome later realized she did not see any hills whilst they drove through the Hills of Beverly. At least not the geographical kind. Pardon the smart alecky Mama gnome.


They stopped at this junction, where they were taking pictures of humans for free if they crossed whilst the light was red.
Daddy gnome didn't want free pictures that day.
He said, "You can have as many free pictures you want, Mama gnome, when you're the one driving the gnome car." Poor sport.

(c)2009 Jenaelha Friendly Gnome's blog

Until finally, the gnomes forced to park their car ten blocks away, returned to this path.

(c)2009 Jenaelha Friendly Gnome's blog

The Fates smiled down at Mama gnome for she saw one of the humans from Trashcan Sinatras.

(c)2009 Jenaelha Friendly Gnome's blog

So Mama gnome armed only with the fire in her heart approached him...

And in the manner of hanging from a cliff, Mama gnome will post the second scroll to narrate her adventures.

Please visit Mama gnome's blog soon to find out what happens when she enters the abode of The Troubadour.

Is this a plot set by the giants to trap Mama gnome?

Will she succeed in her quest for the Trashcan Sinatras? And what does Daddy gnome have to say about that?

In the interest of full disclosure and staying green, Mama gnome is not in the habit of driving frequently, she hardly ever has to. She counts herself very lucky.

She has only been to two concerts in the last seven years and this is that second concert. The first one was Coldplay. And it'll probably be years before she goes to another one.

In the meantime please, help all the Dark Horses and lift the weight off your spirit and REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE...
Go Greeen!

(c) Trashcan Sinatras for all the beautiful works I've mentioned.

Please visit their website at http://www.trashcansinatras.com/

(c)2009 Jenaelha, Friendly Gnome for blogpost